Traction lugs for snowmobile drive track
An endless drive track for a snowmobile is provided with traction lugs that are inclined relative to normal to the track base. When the traction lugs are inclined away from the direction of travel for the track, the traction lugs can compress the snow before engaging the snow for traction, thereby providing lift for a snowmobile traveling in deep snow.
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The present invention is directed to an endless drive track for a snowmobile. Typically, snowmobiles are driven by an endless track provided with traction lugs that engage the snow or ice over which the snowmobile travels. The traction lugs are oriented perpendicular to the base of the track.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides an endless drive track in which the traction lugs are inclined relative to the normal to the track base. When the traction lugs are inclined away from the direction of travel of the track, the traction lugs can compress deep snow before gripping with the snow, which can provide the snowmobile with lift when traveling in deep snow. When the traction lugs are inclined in the direction of travel of the drive track, they can provide a more aggressive gripping of the surface on which the snowmobile is traveling, resulting in improved acceleration.
Referring to
As shown in
The traction lugs of the endless drive track of the present invention are inclined relative to the normal to the track base portion 14. For purposes of the present invention, the inclination of a traction lug is determined by considering a line drawn from the midpoint of the portion where the traction lug joins the track base portion to the midpoint of the tip portion of the traction lug, when viewed from the side. The term normal is referring to the geometric normal, i.e. a line extending perpendicularly from the track base when the track base is oriented in a horizontal plane. This is illustrated in
In one aspect of the present invention, the traction lugs are inclined away from the travel direction of the endless drive track, as seen in
When the traction lugs are inclined away from the direction of travel for the endless track, the traction lugs may have the function of compressing snow on which the snowmobile is traveling before gripping and engaging the snow. That is, the traction lug will compress the snow as well as scoop the snow. This can be advantageous in providing the snowmobile with lift when traveling in deep snow. Referring to
The angle of inclination of the traction lug should be sufficient to provide the compressing action, but not so great as to reduce the traction function significantly. Typically, the angle of inclination of the traction lug will be in the range of 5 to 45 degrees, preferably 5 to 30 degrees, more preferably 5 to 15 degrees. It also is possible to consider the inclination of the leading face of the traction lug. It is preferred that the upper part of the leading face of the traction lug have an inclination of at least 5 degrees, preferably at least 10 degrees, and more preferably at least 15 degrees relative to the normal to the base portion. The traction lugs generally will have a height of about 0.5 to 3 inches (1 to 8 cm), preferably about 1.5 to 3 inches (3 to 8 cm).
The leading and trailing faces of the traction lugs can be parallel or, as illustrated in
It is not necessary for the trailing face of the traction lug to be inclined in the same direction as the forward face. The trailing face could be oriented perpendicular to the base portion of the track, or as illustrated in
Referring to
In another aspect of the present invention, the traction lugs are inclined toward the direction of travel as shown in
It is possible to provide the track with some traction lugs that are inclined away from the direction of travel and some that are inclined toward the direction of travel as shown in
The track may bear instructive indicia. For example an indicia reading “deep snow” having an arrow pointing in a first direction opposite the angle of inclination of the lugs may be provided. An indicia reading “hill climbing” having an arrow pointing in the same direction as the angle of inclination of the lugs may also be provided. As discussed previously, tracks having the angle of inclination pointing in the direction of travel of the lugs are suitable for hill climbing.
The traction lugs can be provided at intervals across the width of the endless drive track in the usual manner. The traction lugs can be spaced in the longitudinal direction of the drive track in the usual manner. The endless drive track can be made of known elastomeric and composite materials.
A detailed description of the invention has been provided above, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Modifications not departing from the spirit of the invention will be apparent. The invention is defined by the claims that follow.
Claims
1. An endless drive track for a snowmobile,
- comprising a base and traction lugs integrally formed with the base, the traction lugs extending upward from the base and extending across a width of the base,
- wherein the traction lugs are inclined relative to normal to the base and wherein the traction lugs comprise a first set of traction lugs inclined away from a track travel direction and a second set of traction lugs inclined toward a track travel direction.
2. An endless drive track for a snowmobile, the track having an outer periphery comprising:
- a base including an outer side; and
- a plurality of traction lugs formed with the base in a unitary construction and extending across a width of the base, each lug having a lower portion proximate and extending outward from the outer side of the base by a first angle of inclination, and at least some of the lugs having an upper portion extending from the lower portion by second angle of inclination relative to the direction perpendicular to the outer side of the base, the second angle of inclination being greater than the first angle of inclination.
- wherein the first angle of inclination is in the range from 5 to 45 degrees.
3. The endless drive track of claim 2, wherein the first angle of inclination is in the range from 5 to 30 degrees.
4. The endless drive track of claim 2, wherein the first angle of inclination is in the range from 5 to 15 degrees.
5. The endless drive track of claim 2, further comprising an inflection point between the upper portion and the lower portion of at least some of the lugs.
6. An endless drive track for a snowmobile, the track having an outer periphery, the track comprising:
- a base including an outer side; and
- traction lugs extending outward from the outer side of the base, the lugs comprising a lower portion having a first angle of inclination relative to normal to the base and an upper portion having a second angle of inclination relative to normal to the base, the second angle being greater than the first angle;
- wherein the lower portion has a first leading face having a first leading face angle and the upper portion has a second leading face having a second leading face angle, the first leading face angle being about 14 degrees and the second leading face angle being about 20 degrees.
7. An endless drive track for a snowmobile, the track having an outer periphery, the track comprising:
- a base including an outer side; and
- traction lugs extending outward from the outer side of the base, the lugs comprising a lower portion having a first angle of inclination relative to normal to the base and an upper portion having a second angle of inclination relative to normal to the base, the second angle being greater than the first angle;
- wherein the lower portion has a trailing face having a first trailing face angle and wherein the upper portion has a trailing face having a second trailing face angle, the first trailing face angle being about equal to 3 degrees and the second trailing face angle being about equal to 11 degrees.
8. A method for using an endless track, the method comprising:
- providing a snowmobile;
- providing a track comprising
- a base; and
- traction lugs integrally formed with the base, the traction lugs extending upward from the base and extending at intervals across a width of the base, the traction lugs being inclined relative to normal to the base;
- selectively securing the track to the snowmobile with one of having the traction lugs inclined toward a track direction of travel and having the traction lugs inclined away from the track direction of travel; and
- securing the track to the snowmobile with the traction lugs inclined opposite the previous securement.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the track bears indicia indicating orientations of the traction lugs suitable for hill climbing and deep snow; the selected track lug orientation being based on the intended use of the track in conjunction with the indicia formed on the track.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Feb 23, 2004
Date of Patent: Sep 9, 2008
Patent Publication Number: 20040217648
Assignee: Arctic Cat Inc. (Thief River Falls, MN)
Inventors: Bret Rasmussen (Preston, ID), Jason Howell (Thief River Falls, MN), Mike Konickson (Thief River Falls, MN)
Primary Examiner: Russell D Stormer
Attorney: Black, Lowe & Graham PLLC
Application Number: 10/786,583
International Classification: B62D 55/24 (20060101);